by Chris Toner – Chris_Toner
Albion Rovers travel to the capital to face Edinburgh City at Ainslie Park this evening.
The match was originally scheduled to be played on 2 January, but Edinburgh were unable to field a team due to an outbreak of coronavirus in the club and the game had to be postponed.
The last time the two sides faced off was a 4-0 victory for Rovers over the Citizens at the same ground on Bonfire Night, with both Rovers and their supporters hoping for similar fireworks tonight.
The home side, managed by former Scotland international Gary Naysmith, have righted the ship following the one-sided defeat last time, with only one loss in their last seven league matches, including securing a point at league leaders Kelty and have won their last three following their Scottish Cup exit against Aberdeen. This run of form sees them sitting in the final promotion playoff spot with a four-point cushion over Stenhousemuir. They can extend that gap with a result tonight.
Rovers, however, have won only twice since that memorable night and find themselves in the midst of a relegation playoff dogfight with Cowdenbeath, having suffered three defeats in their last four, including a 1-0 home defeat against their bottom of the table counterparts, which now sees them only six points clear of the foot of the table.
Tonight is the beginning of an eight-game fixture pile-up in the space of a little over a month for Brian Reid’s side, but they have been boosted by the recent return of star man Kyle Doherty, who will be crucial if Rovers are to stay clear of the relegation playoff.
